However, on Friday, the mosque’s board changed its plans and decided to close the mosque, noting that late Thursday night, Fairfax County decided to close schools on Friday. ADADJaka said mosque leaders checked with interfaith leaders and found that several across traditions were canceling services as well, including Virginia and D.C.-area Episcopal churches, Catholic churches in Washington and several synagogues. The disruption caused by the coronavirus has made religious leaders nervous because the major holidays of Ramadan, Passover and Easter are just weeks away. Imam Omar Suleiman, one of the most high-profile Muslim leaders in the country, said that mosques across the nation were closing in areas that had high numbers of outbreaks. Muslims simply can’t transfer their religious obligation online, he said.

Source: Washington Post March 13, 2020 09:01 UTC